The Best Daly City Guide

Daly City may sit in the shadows of San Francisco, but it rises above the rest with its fantastic beaches and breathtaking views. Thornton State Beach is great for hiking and horseback riding, but it’s not currently open to the public. Only locals have access, due in part to the many landslides. Meanwhile, dramatic bluffs mark one of the area’s hidden gems. Just ten minutes from Downtown San Francisco, Burton Memorial Beach is famous for it’s cool ocean breeze. Read on and take a visit to Daly Cith Californa!
For all the great area beaches, click here.

Best Time To Visit Daly City

Average temperatures in Daly City vary little.  If you’re looking for the very best (warmest) time to visit Daly City, the hottest months are July thru September. The temperature high is 78.4°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 57.1°F at night. The busiest months for tourism June thru August. Prices for hotels and flights will be at their highest during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance.

Best Daly City Area Beaches

Phillip Burton Memorial Beach

Burton Beach is at the foot of a large open hillside next to the Olympic Club Golf Course which straddles the line between San Francisco and San Mateo County. You can explore the deep cave at Burton Beach. At low tides, many picturesque wooden posts stick up out of the sand which make for stunning sunset photos.

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Thornton State Beach

The park is known for the hiking and equestrian trails on the bluff terraces high above the waterline. Thornton Beach is best at low tides as during higher tides the entire beach can be wet. Take a coat if you plan a trip down to this beach, as it can be windy, foggy, and cold.

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Mile Rock Beach at Lands End

Mile Rock Beach is in a small cove tucked below the Lands End Viewpoint. Mile Rock Beach is rocky, small, and littered with logs. At high tide the shore will be quite narrow, but when it’s out, you can explore the boulder-covered beach south of here.

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Fort Funston Beach

Fort Funston is known for windy conditions and the hang-glider platform at the edge of the bluff. If the forecast calls for high wind, go to another local beach. There are hiking trails along the bluff and two routes down to the beach. Back at the parking lot there is a wooden observation platform that offers stunning views of the beach and the ocean.

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Mussel Rock Park Beach

Mussel Rock Park is made up of a lot of trails connecting to paragliding launch points on a hillside in south Daly City. The shoreline below the park has lots of boulders with little sand exposed. There is a sandy beach at the north end of the park. To find sand you’ll have to hike north on the trail above the rocks until it ends and look for a route down to the beach.

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Best Daly City Restaurants

Lisa’s Mexican Restaurant $11 – 30

This is one of the best restaurants in Daly City. If you love Mexican food, this is the place for you. Though it may be small, their food definitely isn’t. With their big portions, this food is sure to fill you up and make you happy. They have a lot of different dishes to choose from, so you could have something different every time you visit. Telephone: 650 756 6289 Web: Lisa’s Mexican Restaurant

Keith’s Chicken N Waffles $11 – 30

Signature fried chicken, specialty waffles, and infused waffles. They are the only chicken and waffle on the peninsula. Experience great fried chicken – hot and crispy and seasoned perfectly. Great waffles – Belgium and Red Velvet. Soul food sides – amazing Mac and cheese, greens, cornbread, baked beans, etc. And with no room left, really good peach cobbler for the road. Telephone: 415-347-7208 Web: Keith’s Chicken N Waffles

California Fish Grill $11 – 30

Savor their open kitchen as vegetables and herbs are chopped, fish is hand battered, and meals are cooked on our signature flame grill. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy an appetizer, while they cook and prepare everything by hand. It’s hard work… but for us, it’s worth it.  Telephone: 650-517-5712 Web: California Fish Grill

Boulevard Cafe $11 – 30

Just about everything on their menu is prepared from scratch including soups, dressings, and sauces. They use sustainable raised grass-fed beef and fresh seafood. Their poultry is free of hormones, antibiotics and delivered fresh, never frozen. Paired with their warm and inviting ambiance and friendly service, Boulevard Cafe hopes to make your dining experience a memorable and satisfying one. Telephone: 650-755-3400 Web: Boulevard Cafe

Burma Cafe $11 – 30

Their chefs are very meticulous about food preparation, taste and overall quality to make sure your experience with Burmese delicacies is a pleasant one. Their variety of salads, soups, curries and noodles can be paired perfectly with any of their specialty drinks, including beers and wines. Telephone: 650-992-6363 Web: Burma Cafe

Best Nightlife in Daly City

Surf Lounge

This is the best dive bar. They serve excellent tiki-tropical cocktails at a great price. Nice backyard patio, great bartenders, and interesting regulars. Warm fireplace for those windy Pacifica nights.  A perfect hang-out. Telephone: 650-355-5111 Web: Surf Lounge

Longboard Margarita Bar

They specialize in an array of delicious margaritas using fresh ingredients including fresh squeezed lime juice, agave nectar and our fresh fruit purees made in house. Along with our margaritas, we offer 11 beers on tap as well as a full bar to meet any taste. They provide live entertainment every weekend ranging from 70’s and 80’s rock and popular music to all of today’s favorite hits. Telephone: 650-738-5905 Web: Longboard Margarita Bar

Hula Hoops

They are a tiki (Hula) themed restaurant supporting Bay Area (Hoops) sports featuring remarkable classic and contemporary exotic cocktails made with fresh juices, and house-made syrups. Telephone: 650-952-3255 Web: Hula Hoops

Brew @ 382

A lot of thought (and tastings!) went into the development of the beer and wine list, which prominently features several Bay Area breweries and wineries and a few highlights from beyond the Bay. Telephone: 650-989-8096 Web: Brew @ 382

Gino’s Club

This is a cantina and latin bar. Just get a bucket of corona for around $15 and have fun listening to old school latin music. Have fun. This isn’t a place to have high expectations. You literally just go here for beers and conversation. Web: Gino’s Club

Molloy’s Tavern

Established in 1883 and an Irish tavern this bar has plenty of atmosphere, memorabilia and sits in the middle of the Colma cemetery district and has been the venue for wakes for the past century and more. An experience that has to be gone through to appreciate. Telephone: 650-270-4853 Web: Molloy’s Tavern

Best Daly City Area Hotels